Saturday, March 15, 2008

Life Happening

Hi.

I'm here. I'm writing, sewing, gardening, launching a couple of new business ventures. The feelings I hinted at in this post showed to me very clearly that the adjustment pains are over. I am a foreigner in France -- I will always be, and it's a fact I actually relish -- but here I have managed to make for myself the creative and independent, low-impact but high-satisfaction life that I was unable to have in Manila, largely because the city was young and volatile, and so was I.

When I moved here for good in 2005, I was often overwhelmed by new sensations and very strong emotions. And because words have always helped me make sense of the world, language the filter I use to clean up messy sentiments, I began this blog. Provenciana was meant to be a tool to help me regain control, and it has served its purpose very well.

This blog helped me understand the shock of cultural adjustment that I was going through. In the process it helped me win that most coveted of writer's prizes in the Philippines. In the near future, it will also put me where all writers want to be -- on the bookshelves. Provenciana, the blog, will become Provenciana, the book. I will post details here at a later date.

Having the book published will be a wonderful farewell to this piece of cyberspace.

Yes, I am closing the blog down. I was already talking about it in this post from July of last year. Maya told me that I would know when to do it, and I know that it is now. Taking the idea from little birds handmade, it will be a month-long farewell. Beginning this coming week, I will be posting very regularly, talking about the details of my daily life, to find out where exactly all the adjustment angst has taken me. Then sometime in mid-April, I will stop posting.

It has been a wonderfully productive two years and a half. Thank you all for keeping me company!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sigh. :-( I must admit -- for selfish reasons, I am sad you are closing your blog. I SO enjoy your funny, poignant, thought-provoking, fish-out-of-water stories and observations of your Provencial life. And I like how we have managed to keep in touch through it. I feel that I have gotten to know you better from your posts than when you still lived here.

Nevertheless, if you believe the blog has served its purpose and you no longer feel compelled to keep it going, then I am sincerely happy for you, Apol. :-) And how I admire you! A book in the works, wow! I eagerly await it. And maybe one day, you will feel the need to open another blog, with a completely different purpose. We can only hope. :-) Best of luck to you!

Soy said...

Aw! That's still a shock! I have read your essay and I don't understand why it was second prize. Should have been First! Super!

Will miss your blog but all the best and i look forward to seeing your book at my local Waterstone's bookshop. :)

Socky said...

I really enjoyed your blog. Anyway, I know it will reincarnate into something just as enjoyable. Congratulations on your book.

A said...

Mami, I will give a full Hollywood clap on your last post. : )

Anonymous said...

I came across your blog when my cousin from the PI visited me (in the US). She left me all her wonderful magazines and I read your article in Cosmopolitan. I think this was 2006? I bookmarked your blog and would check it every so often because I thought it was so intriguing. I'll miss your blog and hopefully, will be able to read your book one day.

Chinachix said...

hi apol, im glad i came across your blog, even if it was late in the game. i enjoy your essays, and wish you continued success. congratulations on the book!

Gina said...

Apol...Good luck in your endeavors.

haze said...

Whatever you wish for I am with you ! Goodluck Apol, but if you happen to change your mind will be perfect !

Happy Easter in advance !

decorator said...

atih... alam mo naman na ang bog na ito ang nagpaconnect sa atin simula ng umalis ka...

...sigh!

Apol said...

Don't worry, Gwyn, I will still have my crafts blog. And I promise to be really funny over there too. Tsup. Love you :)

decorator said...

love you too...

by the way, i have transfered to my new house... still renting.. i will be blogging about it soon when its completely done. you will see the fabric that we bought in montpellier (am i correct?) sa dingding ko. i just have to finish lahat ng back log ko sa projects.

:)

i miss you and pierre and jeanette...

Ka Pete said...

Ako naman, this year lang nagblog, at ili-link ko na sana itong blog mo sa blog ko, kaya lang sasarhan mo na pala. Anyway, in case you're interested, eto ang URL ng blog ko: http://kapetesapatalim.blogspot.com/

And by the way, thanks for letting me know that breadcrumbs is spelled as one word. I've never had any occasion to use it, and I don't come across it while editing a showbiz magazine, but I always assumed it was two words. Since I am a "journalism great" (your words), I assumed I was right and you were wrong. But I have just checked a dictionary, and you're right.

Nagpasko ka pala sa Pilipinas, wala man lang akong kabali-balita.